OK- so just in case I'm not the only person who didn't know this- it seems if you put tape over a postage stamp it voids it. I had bought a flat rate envelope to mail some swap blocks earlier in the week. The clerk put the stamp on the envelope, and I took it home to fill it later. Well, the blocks were a little "fat" in the envelppe so I sealed it with clear packing tape "just in case". Because I covered the stamp the post office would not accept it. I couldn't peel the tape off without ripping the stamp, so I had to re-buy the postage. Those of you that host the swaps need to know this for the people like me that enclose the flat rate envelope with the postage attached. Thanks for letting me vent!

Yes, I learned this the hard way also! what a pain!

Karen "Craftybear"

i also have been there and that----grrrrrrr

Thanks for the reminder. I knew it but forgot. It's been awhile.

The reason for that is because the cancellation ink will not adhere to the celaphane that the tape is made of.

Technically, since service had not been rendered for that stamp, you should have been provided one of equal value without having to pay for it (again).

Buy a glue stick!

Aw, I didnt know that....I would think, like Born2sew said, they would have just let you have another stamp free?

Thanks for the advise!

9.1.2 Damaged in Customer’s Possession
Stamps that are damaged or otherwise unusable for postage (because of humidity,
moisture, or other causes) while in a customer’s possession may be exchanged only
for an equal number of stamps of the same denomination. Unusable stamps
accepted from a customer under these conditions must be those on sale at Post
Offices within 12 months before the transaction. Quantities of the same
denomination over $10 must be returned in the same configuration as when bought
(i.e., sheets, coils, booklets). Each such transaction is limited to $100 worth of
postage from each customer.
9.1.3 Condition and Quantity
The stamps presented for exchange must be in substantially whole condition, with the denomination evident.

I had no idea. Thank for the info.

I asked if they would give me another. I would have needed to remove the original intact to give it to them in return. Of course if I had been able to do that I wouldn't have needed a new one in the first place. The line was out the door. It wasn't worth the fight...